Disintegrator



April 8, 1941. Q .1', .ASBURY 24.237.401

l DISINTEGRATQR Filed Aug. G,y 1938 3- Sheets-Sheet l :Z/j. 42 y 24 y ZJ 6 545513 14 y@ .zg 57 a? 1.o 23 26 40 V" x 2 l 55V a1 j?? 2 5 l /fz 2f i g f7 E j? l l I w if i Pl'ilS, 1941- c. T. AsBURY 2.237.401

DIS INTEGRATOR Filed Aug. G, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 2.9 47.2.? fgfff 2524 Patented Apr. 8, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE y vgattini DISINTEGRATOR.

Charles T. Asbury, Elkins Park, Pa.

Application August 6, 1938,' Serial No. 223,481

13 Claims.

My invention relates to colloid mills andlike devices for homogenizing, emulsifying, dispersing or otherwise disintegrating or distributing liquids, o

emulsions, solids' capable of liquefaction and solids in suspension within liquids for :the purwhich they are made up.

One purpose of the invention is to make high speeds of disc disintegrators available to -a maximum by feeding the material to be disintegrated 'to them at their crcumferences.

A further purpose is to secure high speed impact while avoiding excessive temperatures and avoiding wear.

' high speed mpactor to guide and assist in feeding a stream of particles to the -outer part of the imu ipactor, to feed the stream from the end into posiypose of reducing the sizes of the particles of l tion to be struck by impact teeth or blades carried by the impactor, thereby `subjecting particles to blows and giving them high speed and to clear the spaces between the teeth or blades by sloping the blade faces away from the directionof movement.

` A further purpose -is to drive a stream circumferentially by the blades or teeth of an impactor and to clear the particles of the stream therefrom diagonally against xed lroughened surfaces so as to deliver additional impacts by engagement of the stream with the fixed surfaces.

A further purpose is to use one or more high speed impellers as impactors against a stream of particles to be treated, feeding a stream of particles of low circumferential velocity into an irnpeller having high circumferential velocity and thence, through fixed gui-ding surfaces into a second impeller of high circumferential velocity.

A fur-ther purpose is to taper the engaging surfaces of an impactor or 4impacting rotor away from the direction of rotation so as to give a diagonal direction of discharge, in order that the radial component of the discharge will carry the stream acted upon out against .the surrounding casing and insure as Well as speed up clearing of the stream treated from these limiting surfaces.

A further purpose is to interrupt film flow of a material treated over a xed guiding surface in spaced relation adjacent a rotor to prevent bypassing-and insure full treatment ofl materials passing therethrough.

' A further purpose isradially to interlap a rotor edge and a stator guiding surface about it.

A further :purpose is to guide a liquid to be disintegrated axially, radially and then again axially from one disintegrator rotor for :the purpose of delivering it into the outer part of the end of another disintegrator rotor.

A further purpose is Ito subjectl a stream of particles to be treated .to a succession of high speed impacts, using the fixed surfaces adjacent to guide the stream between impact points and permissibly using the guiding surfaces also as impact surfaces.

A fur-ther purpose is to treat a stream of particles by high speed blows from .an impactor at the circumference and turn the stream across another and permissibly still other -i-mpactors, intermediately delivering blows to` the particles within the guiding section.

A further purpose is to provide a plurality of disintegrators rotating. at high speed and permissibly driven as a unit, in each of which dis- Vintegrators the material acted upon enters axially near the circumference, and, in all beyond the first of which, the previous disintegrator and its surround-ing fixed cooperating surfaces guide and speed the stream acted upon so as .to enter the successive disintegrators laterally.

A further purpose is to groove guiding fixed surfaces cooperating with one or more rotary disin-tegrators and interlap the'disintegrators with these grooved surfaces.

A further purpose is to use a plurality of rotors l revolving 'at high speed and having 'impact with a A further purpose is to engage a stream of par ticles with a disintegrator first near the circumference -of the dsintegrator, feeding into it axially from the end and discharging circumferentially :against adjacent xed structure, inter-` lapping the outer part of the disintegrator with a cooperating groove and discharging the stream axially into a larger disintegrator having its im V pact surfaces and openings preferably staggered with respect to the first, immediately to receive the discharge.

Fuz-.ther purposes will appear in the specifica'- tion and in the claims.

My invention is directed to the methods involved as well as to mechanismby which these methods may be carried out.

'In the disintegration of colloid, quasi colloid and other materials it is very 'desirable that the disintegration be as complete as possible and that the extent of disintegration be as great as possible within a minimal distance of treatment.

In the method and structure which I have presented I have aimed to condense the disintegration of materials within a minimal structure and minimal space in order-to make the -structure as compact as possible and to reduce intermediate material movement between disintegrating treatments of the material.

I have preferred to illustrate the invention by one general form only with slight modification, selecting a form which is practical and efficient and highly advantageous but which has been chosen primarily because of its excellence in illustrating the principles of the invention.

Figure l is a vertical elevation partly in section showing my invention as applied to a mill having a single disintegrating rotor only. The upper part is sectioned to show this feature.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figures 2a and 2b are fragmentary top plan views of modifications of the disc shown in Figure 2.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section corresponding generally to Figure l but showing three disintegra-ting rotors acting together.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the group of rotors seen in Figure 3, corresponding to a section staggered between the composite rotor and the stationary surfaces with which the rotors cooperate.

Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged fragmentary sections showing Ithe composite rotor with adjacent stator of Figure 3 and an alternative construction respectively. I

Figure 5a is a fragmentary section corresponding generally with Figure 5 but showing a modication. t

Figure 5b is a fragmentary vertical radial section through a disc modified with respect to that of Figure 5.

In the drawings similar numerals indicate like parts.

In industrial and scientific fields there is need of certain non-homogeneous discontinuous mixtures variously called emulsions or dispersions. The emulsication or dispersion can be accom- -plished in a number of ways, the most important of which involve mechanical mixing and agitation. The more violent this treatment can be made, in general, the finer will be the subdivision r of the individual globules, droplets' or particles. Such treatment is variously called homogenization or disintegration. Because the treatment is mechanical, it will be referred to herein more generally as disintegration.

From two general types of homogenizers or disintegrators in common use I wish particularly to clear. The one passes a stream to be treated through a very small space between a rotor and a casing, the space being so small that the operation is almost akin to grinding. Excessive heat is developed and the size of the particles produced varies greatly, partly because of the variation in the temperature. The capacity of this type is low, pre-grinding is often necessary and the wear upon operating parts is excessive.

The other type known as a viscolzer is necessarily of heavy construction, presents difficulty in cleaning, requires excessive power, is applicable only .to liquids and also is subject to excessive wear.

It is my intention in referring to the colloid mill as a disintegrator, etc. to cover the use of such a mill and such methods as are disclosed herein, broadly or specifically, for use upon liquids, solids in suspension or solids wherever it is found to be useful.

Because mechanical disintegration itself supplies the heat necessary for liquefaction of fats and oils in certain solidscontaining them, for example, such as found in the peanut and in chocolate nibs, my invention is suitable for treatment of solids of this character as Well as of solids very high in water, solids in suspension in liquidsand true liquids. In the case of solids such as coffee, therewill be complete pulverization.

The present invention is based upon the principle of applying high speed impact to initial breaking up of the particles into smaller particles and successively applying further high speed impacts to successively reduce the size of the particles. As the materials treated will largely be colloids the designation colloid will be adopted generally, for convenience, 4as covering all materials to which -the invention may be applied.

The single rotor impact wheel or disc by which I have preferred to illustrate the first part of the invention is seen in Figures 1 and 2. Here Ithe base I0 supports a rotor shaft II driven preferably by a motor within or forming part of the base. About the rotor shaft is flxedly supported a casing I2 of which the cap I3 forms a part.

Within the cap the colloid to be homogenized or disintegrated may be introduced in any suitable Way. In the illustration -it flows in through the pipe I5 but does not ll the space above the rotor. If excessive colloid be forced in or flow in, particularly if the space I4 becomes filled with colloid the friction immediately becomes excessive, interfering with and ordinarily completely stopping operation.

The rate of colloid feed which is desirable is easily determined by the performance of the mill. Central entry is desirable to preserve balance.

The colloid then. spreads by centrifugal force along the` end face of ,the rotor I6, but without much circumferential speed, from the center to the outer part of the face or end of the rotor.

The cap is fastened to the lower part of the casing by bolts I'I passing through a. gasket. I8. A diagonal division plate I9 may be secured by the same means and, however secured, provides a bottom and guides drainage of the homogenized product from the point at which it is treated to an outlet discharge nozzle 20 shown at the left in. Figures 1, 2 and 3.

The shaft I I not only carries the impact disc I6 but also supports an inverted cup 2l which reaches down over the upper end of a cylindrical shield 22 so as to prevent the treated product from engaging the shaft II. This avoids the necessity for any attempt at close bearings between these parts and places the effective bearings of the rotor and of its shaft below the casing.

The rotor distintegrator is held to the shaft by any suitable means, here shown at 23. The greater part of the upper surface 24 of the disc with which the colloid engages and upon which in one character of operation the colloid is deposited, is preferably plane as it is not the wish to use it to bring the colloid up to any considerable circumferential speed but only to cause flow of the colloid out along the disc surface to the circumference of the disc.

The radial distribution of the colloid can best be accomplished by just enough circumferential speed of the colloid to feed b-y centrifugal force.

The rotor operates by reason of teeth or projections 25 at its circumference. These teeth but may be varied considerably to get good re-y sults and that it should be `somewhat greater for a solid or relatively dense liquid treated thang for less dense or more easily flowing liquids treated, including as liquids iiuids in which solids are suspended in liquids. Fair results have been secured upon some higlily fluid colloids .with radial slots. The range of colloids which can be handled (with respect to their freedom to iiow and their effective discharge) increases with'the angle in the low angle range. Excellent results have been secured with a wide variety of solids,

liquids, and solids in suspension in liquids with' angles ranging from zero (radial) to fifteen degrecs The upper face of the disc as the disc lies in Figure l is circumferentially grooved near the perimeter to provide a shallow channel 3| within the area which is slotted to form the teeth, leaving an upwardly directed annular liange 32 as the outer limit of the channel and an annular shoulder 33 at the inner channel limit.

The disc I6 cooperates with a xed baille 4or guide 34 mounted within or formed from the cap of the casing in any suitable way and preferably with xed impact surfaces roughened or otherwise formed to abruptly divert the direction of ow of the guided discharge from the impact disc.

The baille provides a downwardly extending ring 35, preferably extending down into the annular groove 3 I. A downwardly directed annular groove 3B, lies between the ribv and the outer casing wall.

The lower outer v.edge 38 and. the shoulder 39 of this rib 35 is abrupt enough (preferably less than 90) and steep enough, with cooperating groove depth, of course, to break up the travel of a iilm of colloid along the lower surface of the baille whichwould flow by reason of centrifugal force and otherwise would follow the baille surface because of capillary attraction. Any particles discharging from the sharp outer edge are caught by the flanged portions of the teeth at 32.

The rib and groove of the annular .baille are so placed that the rib lies over the channel 3| and the groove lies over the flange 32. The opera' tion is quite materially more effective when the rib extends` down into the channel and when the flange 32 lies within the space of the groove 36 thanif the parts are located so that this relation does not exist. i

The discharge from the disintegrating rotor is concentrated largely upon the adjacent -surface of the casing and the outer portion of the groove.

vIn order that they may not only act as impact than wouldy be a continuation of the baffle. The baille must be connected to the casing in some way here and the welded filling presents a better wearing guide than does the material of the baille.

The impact effect upon the stream of colloid from contact with this surface 4l is improved by roughening the surface which may be done for example by .sand blasting. I recognize that a great variety of surfaces is available for roughening so that the energy of the stream will be taken up largely in impact leaving just enough velocity to clearthe surfaces so as to avoid cushioning of the colloid and provide feed to the point of discharge, or as in other figures, to the spaces between the teeth of another rotor disintegrator; but my invention relates particularly rather to the matter of roughening than to the character of the `roughening of the surface, or the` manner in which the roughening of the surface is secured. There is sufficient clearance between the periphery of the disc and the casing to provide free discharge of the treated stream.

The inlet pipe 42, may be kept filled with colloid in order to avoid admission of air from above. The valve 43 in this pipe controls the flow of colloid to avoid filling the space above the disc.

As thus illustrated, the colloid to be treated flows outwardly but with low circumferential speed along the preferably plain surface of the disc from the inlet untilvit reaches the' inner limits of the teeth or projections where it flows in part outwardly and downwardly into the groove and into the spaces between the teeth and in part against the baille. I have had great success with impeller speeds of the order of ve thousand peripheral feet per minute and at' any such speed the colloidas it flows into the spaces between the teeth receives terrific impacts or blows from the forwardly directed surfaces 29 of the teeth which are highly effective in homogenizing Athe colloid.`

The blows are the more eifective because the slots are narrow and the slots are not fully lled. The volume of colloid in each slot is small enough .to offer little cushioning and be almost wholly homogenized. With a disc diameter of six inches, thickness of three-sixteenths of an inch, slot width of one-eighth of an inch, slot angle of 15 and tooth length of seven-sixteenths of an inch the speed above gives excellent results homogenizing as diverse materials as col'd cream, bananas, mineral oil emulsions and ground peanuts.

At the same time the advancing tooth surfaces deliver blows they cause the colloid to be carried with the disc and to partake ofthe speed of the disc, with the result that as the stream is discharged from the disc against the adjacent stationary structure, whether it be vsmooth or deliberately roughened, the particles in their now partially divided form again receive terric blows at differential speeds comparable with those delivered by the teeth.

Whatever is later to be done with the colloid stream to which the teeth deliver blows, this stream is cleared quickly from the slots, kerfs or spaces between the teeth, maintaining the capacity of the impact. disc and avoiding having Acolloid which too sluggishly clears act as a cushion to soften the blows delivered.

If the'slots were radial the material treated, if in the least sluggish, would but poorly discharge from the slots themselves, being then dependent unduly upon the centrifugal force of the colloid which would not yet have gathered speed from centrifugal force because it had so recently entered into the slots. The angular position of the slots with respect tothe radius gives a wedge-like eifect which tends to eject the colloid from the slots more forcefully and at higher speeds and gives an additional radial fixed surface whether this fixed surface be circumferentially smooth (Figure 2) or circumferentially roughened as in Figure a.

Though the single rotor disc form seen in Figure 1 does excellent work in disintegrating, it does not carry the disintegration as far as it can be carried by a combination of disintegrating discs.

In the multiple disintegrator forms of Figures 3-6 the discharge from the first rotor is guided by a xed annular baiile quitesimilar to the baiile in Figures 1 and 2 but is guided into the path of a second rotor |by which theiparticles are further disintegrated and are discharged into a second baffle which directs the flow into the path of a third disintegrator; it being the intention to pass the flow from the rst disintegrator through as many disintegrators as may be desired, With intermediate guidance, and with or Without such special provision of roughening of the baffle surfaces for the purpose of intermediate disintegration. The discharge from the final rotor In the preferred form of the multiple rotor disintegrator, `as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the smallest rotor is shown as substantially identical with the single rotor in Figure 1, using the same type of teeth, spacing of the slots, face channel and limiting flange. The additional rotors, of which two only are shown, 161 and 162, are successively larger than rotor 16 and rotor 161, respectively, and are quite similar to itin that they have corresponding teeth 251, 252 and corresponding kerfs 261, 262. Likewise, these successively larger rotors are provided with face' channels 311, 312 and flanges 321, 322.

If it be desired the teeth of the successive rotors may be staggered, so that the teeth of the rotor 162, for example, shall correspond generally in angular position with the slots of rotor 161, as appears in the middle and outer rotor discs in Figure 4. This is fully practicable with larger diameter of discs. In such case there will be, of course, the same number of teeth on each rotor and the teeth-or the slots, or both, correspondingly will occupy a larger circumferential space in the larger than in the smaller rotors. This in no way 'limits the `capacity of the successive rotors because the colloid flow is controlled by the capacity of th smallest rotor and each successive rotor will handle the stream which is fed to it from a preceding rotor. It will be noted that the number of teeth on rotor disc 16 is not the same as in disc 161.

Along the substantial duplication on a larger diameter of the teeth, slots, etc., in the successive rotors applicant prefers also substantially to duplicate the fixed baille by which the colloid is directed from the slots of the single rotor to discharge. These are nearly duplicated in the baiile guiding the flow of the colloid discharged from one rotor to the slots of the teeth of the next;y and so on.

Of course it must be remembered tha-t the baille performs disintegrating functions in Figures 1 and 2 whether there be a. roughened surface or not, the roughened surface merely improving the eifectiveness of this action.A

Since the next succeeding rotor will do for a colloidal stream discharged by one rotor, the disintegrating intended to be performed in Figures 1 and 2 in its most effective form, i. e., using the roughened fixed surface (Figure 5a, for example) and will do it better than would this roughened fixed surface, the roughening of this surface may be omitted, if desired, in the guides between rotors, at least, in multiple rotor structures such` as are shown in Figures 3-6 and may be omitted from the final guide if its function be then not needed.

Comparing with Figures 1 and 2, it will be noted that in both of Figures 5 and 6 the smallest rotor discharges into a baille characterized by a groove 36 and downwardly directed annular rib 35. The annular downwardly and outwardly sloping surface 45 is used to direct the discharge, after impact into the channel 311 of the next rotor 161 and therefore upon the faces of and between its teeth 25 and between the teeth 2 51 of the next rotor 161. It still has impact functions and in addition to its ultimately guiding the flow into the path of. the 'teeth of the next disc it must intermediately divert the flow from the impact surface rapidly enough to prevent cushioning.

The diameter of the second rotor-and similarly of the third with respect to the second-is selected so that the teeth 251 and the face channel 311 shall be in position to receive the discharge stream directed by thesurface 45. Moreover, the fact that all of the rotor discs are carried by the same shaft permits an initial setting of one disc with respect to anotherAuch as the staggered relation of 251 to 252 to place the slot of one opposite the solid part of the tooth of another-to be maintained. The stream discharged from rotor 161 is guided through the medium of annular groove 361 and downwardly directed annular rib 351, which latter fits into the channel 311. At the outer end of these guiding walls the downwardly and outwardly sloping annular surface 451 directs the flow into the channel and teeth of still another rotor 162, hav- A ing diameter suited to receive the discharge from the slots of rotor 161.

Preferably the same relation is maintained between channel 311 and ange 321 on the one hand and the annular downwardly directed rib 352 and groove 362 as is maintained between the corresponding parts shown in connection with the second rotor.

From the rotor of largest diameter, here 162, the outwardly owing stream of colloid discharges against a guiding and limiting wall 31 which dlverts the stream downwardly into the space 46 above the partition 19. Whether the discharge engage a smooth wall or a roughened wall-such,

for example, as that shown in Figure 5s al this point as a disintegrator may not be justified. by the need.'

ln Figure 6 the eilect of having the-outer edge of the disc higher than adjacent part of the disc so as to enter the groove 36 is secured by turning up the edge of the disc at 41 instead of providing l an annular channel as in the preceding figures. The operation is quite similar to that in Figure 5.

The baffle cooperates with the flange 32a as before' and the flanged tops ofthe teeth receive colloid and disintegrate it much as do flanges 32, 321, etc.

ln Figure 2a the outer cylindrical surfaces of the teeth have been relieved at 48 in order to reduce the resistance to rotation of the wheel. The cylindrical surface relieved is not operative for impact purposes as the forwardly directed face lt of the tooth performs this function.

In Figure 2b the outer, otherwise cylindrical surfaces of the teeth slope circumferentially in this case alongl curved lines but in the oppositey Ynearly ltangential ow which comes from these slots. The slope of the outer. surfaces of the teeth in Figure T2b is intended for use to assist in the second function above, namely, in diverting the outward flow from the slots away from the tangent and toward the immediately adjacent baille. Except as it may be needed for this purpose, it will normally not be desirable because of the considerable increase which it causes in the friction due to rotation of the disc or discs.

ln Figure 5b teeth 49 are shown intended to be spaced by slots 2lia similar' to the slots shown best in Figures 2 and 4 and to be channeled at 3l com- Cil It is evident that even with the slots clear through as in Figures l-d the colloid does not iiow down to the bottom of the groove at the start, i. e., immediately adjacent the inner ends. of the slots. Instead, due to centrifugal force the colloid moves outwardly as it enters the slot describing a shallow paraboloid curve. Filling in with metal a part lit which would not in any event be lled with colloid makes no difference in the colloid carrying capacity of the slots, provided the metal be cut low enough to avoid friction `of the colloid against the uncut wall 53.

The reason above justiiies leaving a certain amount of uncut metal in the lower inner part of the slots, as doing no harm, but does not justify leaving the uncut metal in the lower part of the outer part of the slots. lf uncut metal be left there, it must be justified by the additional suction upon the colloid flow into the slots, thus made available by cutting off inlet of the air from the bottom. Since the bottom is open to air inlet through the discharge it, air would be filled in to break the suction in the construction of Figure 1 and in the case of the lowermost disc in Figures 5 and 6 unless the air inlet be cut off by some such means as shown in Figure 5b. Such parably with the channeling shown in the other least, are not cut all the way through to the full radial depth of the teeth, leaving portions at the inner lower parts of the teeth which are uncut. lllhes'e uncut portions at the back of the teeth may extend clear to the outer circumference of the 'teeth as at 5| in Figure 5b though this extent of uncut metal is not necessary to secure a part of the benefit of this invention. The form of slot bottom is a convenient form to cut because it corresponds to that of an ordinary milling cutter.

The use of slots 26a between teeth as in Figure 5h, whether the slots be cut clear through the i disc or leave uncut portions 50 extending to the outside at 5l of the disc as in Figure 5b is intended to serve a purpose in increase of suction to draw the outwardly flowing colloid down into the grooves by cutting off inlet of air from below and at the same time not to interfere with the actual flow of colloid into the teeth spaces.

-may become quite desirable.

action of the inlet is avoided in the case of the uppermost and middle discs in Figures 5 and 6 by the positions of the discs below them. Where air inlet 4is cut off by closure of the lower part of the slots between the teeth the discharging stream of colloid will protect against air inlet between the rotating disc and the baille. However the spacing between the disc perimeter and the baffle is great enough so that there is no grinding action and ample room for film flow.

The space 54 above the baiiles is available for heating or cooling purposes as desired. When objectionable heat is developed by the operation of the rotors cooling liquid may be applied. However, when the colloid is sticky in its char--` acter or is unduly viscous heating of the baiiles For the purpose of introducing either heating or cooling iiuid I have shown inlet pipe 55 and outlet pipe 5l?.`

It will be evident that the series of discs act as a'unit, giving a larger speed of ilow for each disc in succession and a higher rate of impact in each. The sparse quantity of colloid flowing into the rst disc assures that there shall be no clogging of colloid in the slots of any of the other discs.

The extremely shallow depth of entry of the colloid within the slots of the discs-particularly of the initial discmakes it wholly unnecessary The initial disc performs a function not ref" quired of the other discs of securing uniformity and proper rate of distribution of the colloid. In fact, this function-even if it had no otherwould justify the use of the initial disc.

Because of the rapid radial distribution of the colloid over the surface `of the initial disc, there is a much greater tendency for the colloid to dis charge from the upper surface of the disc without this portion of the colloid entering the slots than is true of the other discs. One of the purposes of the' upwardly directed nange on the outer face of the disc and of having it interlap within a groove in the guide and of the downwardly di rected fixed baille rib by which this groove is emphasized is to direct the colloid down into the channel by the radially inner face of this rib and prevent the colloid from by-passing, by requiring that as the colloid passes outwardly under the rib it shall enter the outer end at least of the slots where these slots pass through the outer flange. This is of benefit in all of the discs but has special advantage in the initial disc.

The best results are secured when the baffle rib comes down below the upper level of the disc flange, because then there is more assurance of all of the colloidal flow being dropped to at least the level of the top of the flange as the colloid leaves the disc.

As will be seen, with this preferred form the guiding function performed by the rib `is independent of the question of whether there be an annular channel about the disc or not, since for this purpose the channel affords a convenient means of providing a flange which shall be higher than the immediately adjacent section of the disc, Another way of providing the flange complying with the requirements above and shown in Figure 6 secures the comparative heights without necessity for a cut channel by projecting the edge upwardly as distinguished from cutting away the adjacent upper disc.

Even if the downwardly extending baiile rib does not extend below the level of the flange a part of the benefit of my invention will be secured by its function of deflecting the colloidal stream. Where this function is performed to the full substantially all of the colloid which is distributed by the (first) rotor will pass out through the slots of the rotor, much of it passing down into what may be considered as the bodies of the slots and the balance passing through at least between the flange portions of the teeth.

It will be clear, therefore, that the colloid will not enter the slots of the initial disc as quickly nor as deeply as it will enter the slots of subsequent discs where its flow as it approaches the slots is nearly axial instead of along the face of the disc. It will also be clear that the path of the colloid entering the slots between the teeth of the initial disc will be parabolic, the parabola being flattene'd by the considerably higher speed given by centrifugal force as distinguished from that given by gravity.

Between the entry of the colloid within the slots along its parabolic track and the discharge of the colloid 4through the flange ends of the slots. the initial disc performs a very considerable impact function in additionto the necessary distributing function.

There are various advantages in having the additional impact discs successively of larger diameter than the nextprece'ding impact disc. The

guiding function to feed a larger disc can be 'oer-` formed with less reversal of direction of colloid now than would be required if the successive impact discs were the same size or smaller. The larger diameter of each successive disc gives a higher sneed4 of disc and therefore a greater impact blow and. if we give up the idea of staggering the teeth of the later discs back of slots in the earlier discs, the larger diameter permits a larger number of slots for the same circumferential length of tooth, reducing the thickness of the film passing through each slot and therefore additionally avoiding such cushioning effect as would take place with a thicker film.

It will be`vident that the danger of discharged colloid beingv passed through without properly entering the slotsof the next disc is greatly reduced in succeeding discs by the fact that the v tical plane.

colloid is guided to discharge axially into the face of successive discs.

The sharp lower outer corner and undercut shoulder of the baffle result in colloid leaving the rib at this point instead of following the surface of the adjacent groove. The colloid which has left the film is thrown upon the teeth and grooves, in particular upon the tooth flanges and between the teeth at the flanges. Y

The subdivision of the colloidv into successively finer particles tends to produce a mist of the colloid which tendency becomes more pronounced, the finer the subdivision. With the larger volume of mist formed, the colloid will tend to fill a larger proportion of the slot in each vsubsequent d isc. However, when the mist is discharged upon a surface, it will tend to condense as a film but With more capacity for conversion into mist with each further subdivision of the particles.

Themethod of securing outer tooth flanges by cutting a channel and leaving the uncut metal as a ange (Figure 5) has advantage over turning up an edge (Figure 6) because the distribution of the metal about the circumference is then likely to be more uniform than that secured in the construction in Figure 6. For the initial disc there is a slight advantage also, over the Figure 6 form, in that the radially inner shoulder provided by the channel assists in breaking up the lm flow of the colloid being distributed along the surface of this initial disc. This function has less utility in the other discs than in the initial disc becausethere is with them a much smaller proportion of colloid tending to follow the surface of the discs.

'I'he determination to illustrate the invention by discs rotating in horizontal planes and carried by vertical shafts has been reached not because the invention can not be used with horizontal axis and vertical lines of rotatingfor they can be so usedbut because of the fact that it is easier to balance the feed of the colloid and thus to secure a high uniform distribution of the colloid flow with an upwardly facing horizontally rotating disc than with a disc rotating in a ver- In determining this preference for thevertical shaft applicant has considered that the shaft difficulty of the vertical shaft construction, namely the need for thrust Ibearings is a purely mechanical feature not affecting the operations performed, whereas the improvement in distribution secured does seriously improve the operation of applicants method and enables him to get maximum eiiciency and idealconditicns of operation. Under the rule that the inventor, showing the best form of his invention, is entitled to cover appropriation of the invention, even in less advantageous form, applicant plans to cover in all claims not inconsistent themselves therewith, the horizontal shaft form as well as the vertical shaft form.

It will be evident that the spacing between the disc perimeter and the baie is great enough so there is no grinding action at this point and so the fluid friction is low and the friction of the mechanism is largely confined to the friction of the disc against the colloid flowing and the friction of the bearings.

In view of my invention and disclosure variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will vdoubtless become evident to others skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of my invention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore', claim all such in sofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: A

l. In a rotary disntegrator, a casing, a rotary shaft therein adapted to turn at high speed, a rotary disintegrator disc carried by said shaft, teeth located at the perimeter of the disc, open at the end and having their face surfaces sloping outwardly and rearwardly as respects the direction of rotation and having a circumferential groove in an end face of the `disc inthe portion occupied by the teeth, a continuous fixed annular bafile above about the teeth, extending into the annular groove and a continuous xed roughened annular surface within the casing about the disc and adapted to receive the discharge from the disc.

2. in a high speed rotary disintegrator, a rotor shaft, means for rotating the shaft at high speed, a disc carried by the shaft having a plain disc surface upon the inner end surface of the disc and terminating in teeth, a source of supply of material to be disintegrated located above the center of the disc, means for controlling the supply, the upper faces of the teeth being circum ferentially hollowed and upwardly projecting on the side toward the supply of material at the outer circumference of the teeth and a baille, adapted to guide the discharge from the teeth, having an outwardly abrupt rib fitting down into the hol lowed portion, a groove cooperating with the projection and an outwardly and downwardly sloping face across the outer edge of the disc and close to the outer disc edge,

3. ln a rotor disintegrator, a casing, a rotatable shaft therein, means for rotatingthe shaft at high speed, a disintegrator disc carried by theV shaft adapted to engage the product handled upon one end surface thereof and having the same end surface channeled near the circumference and. flanged beyond the channeling closely adjacent the perimeter and there provided with impact teeth, the impact surfaces sloping outwardly and rearwardly as compared with the direction of rotation `and an annular xed baille adjacent the disc surface, having an annular rib undercut on its radially outside edge within the channel and the baille being grooved above the disc flange, and a continuous annular guiding surface in position to receive the material directed by the baille and sloping downwardly and outwardly beyond the disc.

t. In a high speed rotary disintegrator, an inlet for material fed, a rotatable disc having peripheral teeth and an end face of the disc dished on the side toward the feed close to the outer part of the teeth, leaving the tooth ends relatively projecting axially at the outside of the disc, a casing about the disc, means for rotating the disc at high speed and a baille extending as a rib into the dished portion continuously about the circumference of the disc and'having a transversely and outwardly sloping portion close to the disc perim/eter guiding the/"discharge, the radially outer edge of therib adjacent the disc being abrupt and continuous in radial line with the axial teeth projections, whereby material fed breaks away from the baille at this edge of the rib and is thrown into the axially extending projections of the teeth, as distinguished from following the contour of the baille.

E. ln a rotaryimpact disintegrator, a casing, a shaft therein, means for rotating the shaft at high speed, a disc on the shaft having a distributing end surface of diameter less than the diameter of the disc and teeth at the perimeter open for discharge directly radially outward, the disc having a circumferential end groove through the teeth near the outer ends of the teeth leaving end tooth projections, means for feeding material to be treated to the distributing surface, a circumferentially continuous baille extending into the grooveand abrupt at its outer edge within the groove to discharge through the ends of the teeth, and a baille flange close to the teeth extending across the teeth ends and radially outwardly to receive the impact of the discharge and to guidel the ,discharge transversely across tne planes of the teeth.

6. In a rotary impact disintegrator, a casing, a shaft, therein, means for rotating the shaft at high speed, a disc on the shaft having teeth at the perimeter grooved in their axial faces and open for discharge directly radially outward, a

circumferentially continuous baille extending into speed, two discs on the shaftof different diameters, the larger having its face` adjacent the back of the smaller and the smaller having a distributing end surface of diameter less than the diameter of the disc, both discs having teeth at their perimeters open for discharge directly radially outward and circumferential end grooves through the teeth near the outer ends of the teeth leaving' end tooth projections, the grooves and teeth of the larger disc extending beyond the teeth of the smaller disc, a circumferentially continuous baille for each discextending into the groove of the corresponding disc and abrupt at its outer edge within the groove to discharge radially through theends of the teeth and a baille flange for each baille, close to the teeth of the corresponding disc, extending across the teeth ends and radially outwardly to receive the impact of the radial discharge and to guide the discharge transversely across the planes of the teeth, whereby both discharges are cleared to prevent cushioning and the discharge from the ilrst baille enters the groove of the second disc.

8'. ln a rotary disintegrator, a rotatable shaft, a motor adapted to rotate the shaft at high speed, a casing about the shaft, a disintegrator disc carried by the shaft having slots at its perimeter, sloping in slot length outwardly and away from the direction of slot rotation, the slots providing an annular series of teeth adjacent the outer edge of the disintegrator yand a circumferentially continuous annular fixed baille axially adjacent the teeth, said baille having a substantially smooth surface facing said series of teeth, said surface being so arranged as to receive directly material discharged centrifugally from said disc,

9. A rotary disintegrator comprising a rotary shaft, means for rotating the shaft at high speed` a Vcasing about the shaft, a plurality of disintegrating disc close together movable one with the other in the same direction, face to back of different diameter, each carried by the shaft and a from one disintegrating disc into impact-receiving axial engagement with the outer rim of another, the baille being continuous and internally sub'- stantially smooth.

10. In a high speed rotary disintegrator, a disc having teeth at the circumference spaced by slots and whose leading tooth surfaces constitute impact faces, a casing about the disc, supply means above the disc for feeding material to the center of the disc, whereby the friction from disc rotation causes revolution of the material and consequent centrifugal feeding of the material to the teeth, a continuous baille above and about the disc terminating in an outwardly and down- Wardly sloping surface and a second disc of like character as the rst mentioned disc and of larger diameter than it, having the teeth at the periphery in the second disc in line with the guided flow from the sloping surface.

11. In a rotary disintegrator, a rotatable shaft,

a rotating disc carried by the shaft, a casing about thel disc, means for rotating the shaft at high speed and an annular series of teeth carried by the disc separated by spaces providing inlet for the material to be disintegrated, the cylindrical end faces of the teeth being circumferentially channeled closely adjacent the circumference, providing an annular series of extending flanges,

an annular continuous baille above and about the disc extending into the channel of the disc, and a second annular continuous bale above and around said series of flangesl and having a downwardly and outwardly sloping surface and a second disc having an annular series of teeth and spaces to which the material is led by the sloping surface.

12. In a rotary disintegrator, a casing, a rotatable shaft therein, a rotary disintegrator disc carried by the shaft, the outer edge of the disc being extended axially further on the side which is to receive the material to be handled than is true of the immediately adjacent end surface of the disc, a fixed continuous annular baille extending toward the surface of the disc immediately adjacent the outer edge onv the same side and beyond the outer edge of the disc on the same side and radially inwardly of the axial extension of the disc and lower than the uppermost portion of said extension, the outer face of said fixed bafe extending inwardly and upwardly from the lower peripheral outer edge of said baille, to provide a sharp peripheral edge for the discharge of material owing along the bottom surface of said fixed baille, and a xed guide beyond the disc in the line of discharge therefrom.

13. In a rotary dislntegrator, a plurality of concentric peripherally notched disintegrator discs in different planes, providing annuli of teeth open at their sides and radial ends, said disc being of successively larger diameters from the point at which the material is received which is to be handled, means for supplying material to the smallest disc and a guide extending across the radial ends of the teeth of the disc of smaller diameter receiving the material discharged from the outer edge of each smaller disc and directing it across and into the open sides of the teeth of the disc of the next larger size.

CHARLES ,I. ASBURY. 

